National Zoological Park, byname National Zoo, zoo in Washington, D.C., that was established under the Smithsonian Institution by acts of the U.S. Congress in 1889 and 1890, when a site in the wooded valley of Rock Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, was purchased. The Smithsonian was authorized to transfer to the zoo the animals kept in cages at the rear of the Smithsonian Institution. Various government departments, including the foreign consular service, donated specimens, and many exotic specimens have been received as gifts from foreign governments.

A discussion of efforts to save endangered species, notably the giant panda, at the National …

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The zoo, which occupies about 76 hectares (187 acres), has approximately 5,000 specimens of more than 500 species. It has developed one of the world’s finest collections of small mammals and became famous for breeding pygmy hippopotamuses. Rarities include a white Bengal tiger and a pair of pandas (Mei Xiang and Tian Tian), a gift from China in 2000; the pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, given by the Chinese in 1972, died in 1992 and 1999, respectively. A remodeling program in the 1960s resulted in the construction of an outstanding great flight cage and new hoofed-stock areas. A hospital-research building was added in 1970. In 1975 the zoo acquired 1,280 hectares (3,150 acres) in Front Royal, Virginia, to use as a conservation and research centre. The Cheetah Conservation Station, Reptile Discovery Center, and Amazonia (a re-creation of the Amazon rainforest) were among the zoo facilities that opened in the 1990s.

A discussion of conservation efforts at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., from the …

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A discussion of the efforts to save endangered species, notably the golden lion tamarin, at the …

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...hectares) in Northwest D.C. Congress purchased this land in 1890 to safeguard it from development. Remnants of quartzite and soapstone quarries once used by Native Americans can be found there. The National Zoological Park occupies about 160 acres (65 hectares) of Rock Creek Park. Among the zoo’s main attractions are the panda bears, on long-term loan from China.

Zoos are funded in various ways. In the United States most zoos are supported partially or wholly out of public funds by the town, city, or state in which they are located. The National Zoological Park, in Washington, D.C., was founded by Congress in 1889–90. Its site was purchased by the U.S. government, and running expenses are provided from public funds. The Zoological Park in the...

research institution founded by the bequest of James Smithson, an English scientist. Smithson, who died in 1829, had stipulated in his will that should his nephew and heir himself die without issue, his remaining assets would pass to the United States and be used to found the Smithsonian...

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The National Zoological Park, or National Zoo, is an American zoo located in Washington, D.C. It was established by the Smithsonian Institution in 1889 and 1890, when a site in the wooded valley of Rock Creek-a tributary of the Potomac River-was purchased. The Smithsonian had kept animals in cages at the rear of the Smithsonian Institution, and it was these animals that were initially transferred to the zoo. Various U.S. government departments donated specimens, and many exotic animals have been received as gifts from foreign governments.